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Las Cruces family band hopes to become a hit on 'America's Got Talent'

By Diana Alba Soular / dalba@lcsun-news.com

Posted:
12/26/2012 06:08:55 PM MST

LAS CRUCES — One Las Cruces family is hoping to become the next musical act to take center stage on the TV show "America's Got Talent."

Adrian Vigil, 36, and his two sons, Marcos, 17, and Dominik, 15, are planning a trip to San Antonio, Texas, next month to audition for the show.

The three formed the band in 2011 in honor of Vigil's daughter, Monique, who died of cancer at age 11 the same year. Since then, they've become regulars at the farmers market and charity events around the city.

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Vigil said the music has been a way to cope with the loss of their family member, and their attempt to make it onto the show is a continuance of that.

"It's important we're able to rise above what we've been through," he said.

Adrian Vigil plays guitar and sings in the band, called "Overcome." His sons play percussion. Their music used to focus upon Christian pop and rock, but has since branched out. The common theme is that it's "uplifting," Vigil said.

"We do originals; we do covers from the Kings of Leon to Tom Petty to Bob Seger. We do some Johnny Cash."

Vigil said he pre-registered for the Jan. 12 audition —which likely will hasten the audition process that day. The doors open at 6 a.m., he said, but the band likely will show up hours earlier to wait in line.

Adrian Vigil's two other children and his wife, Hidi Velasquez-Vigil, will accompany them on the trip, though they're not in the band.

Velasquez-Vigil said the band's audition also offers a chance to drum up support for the very disease that struck Monique. More research is needed into children's cancer, she said.

"Maybe they'll be able to get a little more funding," she said.

Around Thanksgiving 2010, the Vigils were caught off guard when Monique, age 10 at the time, suddenly became ill. Within a span of days, she'd been whisked to St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix and diagnosed with a brain tumor. She soon underwent surgery and suffered a stroke.

In spite of physicians' efforts, Monique, a former student at University Hills Elementary School, died the following year. She's buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Las Cruces —not far from where the Vigils now live.

The Vigils said they're often told that time will help to ease the pain of their loss. But they haven't experienced that.

"We miss her the same every day," said Marcos, a student at Las Montañas High School.

Said Adrian Vigil: "Our band is the one thing that keeps us moving in the right direction."

Adrian Vigil said he's optimistic about the group's chances of being selected. But he and his sons are still attempting to select the song they'll play for the audition. Also, he said he's raising money to pay the roughly $1,500 for the family to travel to San Antonio for the trip. Also, he said they're seeking public backing from Las Crucens.

"Anything financially helps us out, but just knowing our community supports us and is behind us is important," he said.

The band has a business account set up at Wells Fargo locations in Las Cruces under the name "Overcome Music." Or, Adrian Vigil said, residents can contact him via email at aavigil76@gmail.com.

Diana Alba Soular can be reached at (575) 541-5443; follow her on Twitter @AlbaSoular

You can help

— If you want to support the Vigils with donations, the band has a business account set up at Wells Fargo locations in Las Cruces under the name "Overcome Music."

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